Explosive rocket toy and launcher



July 3, 1956 P. A. MaclNNEs 2,752,729

EXPLOSIVE ROCKET TOY AND LAUNCHER Filed Oct. 23, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet lze Z Z7 /r/G '7 @E INVENTOR. PETE@ 4. M40 /A/A/ESl F/G. zo.

July 3, 1956 P, A, MaolNNEs EXPLOSIVE ROCKET TOY AND LAUNCHER Filed Oct.25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. ,05 75e ,4. M4@ VA/Es,

2,752,729 EXPLOSIVE RDCKET TOY AND LAUNCHER Peter A. Machines, Detroit,Mich. Application October 23, 1953, Serial No. 387,860 11 Claims. (Cl.46-200) This invention relates to a novel rocket toy of the explosivetype and which includes an explosive cap detonating launcher and anexplosive cap detonating rocket, the primary object of the inventionbeing to provide a combination of launcher and rocket of this kind whichproduces a two-stage visual and audible performance which 4is highlydiverting and amusing, and wherein detonation of the rocket, as therocket returns to the ground from flight launched by the launcher,serves also to indicate to an operator of the launcher the location ofthe rocket.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in acombination of the character above, a more efficient explosive launcherwhich is arranged to be detonated by being struck upon the ground by anoperator, and which has a handle by means of which an operator strikesthe launcher upon the ground and which is of suilicient length to placethe operator at a safe distance away from the launcher proper.

A further important object of the invention is to provide more amusingand diverting explosive rockets for dynamic and diverting actions whilein flight.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration rather than limitation,specific embodiments of the invention are set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a contracted top plan view of the combination of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the combination of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a contracted left hand side elevation of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section taken onthe line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in transverse section,showing another form of rocket, the detonator being shown in closer oroperative position in full lines and in open or inoperative position inphantom lines;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section taken onthe line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a further form of rocket;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse Vertical section taken on the line9 9 of Figure 8; and

Figure l0 is a schematic view showing launching, llight, and detonationof a rocket, in accordance with the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like or related numeralsdesignate like or related parts throughout the several views, and rst toFigures l through 4 therey 2,752,729 Patented July 3, 1956 of, thenumeral 12 generally designates the combined launcher and rocket toytherein shown. The toy 12 comprises the launcher 13 and the rocket 14.

The illustrated launcher 13 comprises a vertically elongated, preferablycylindrical body 15, preferably made of Wood or of plastic material, andhaving a rounded lower end 16. The upper part of the body 15 is radiallyreduced, as indicated at 17, and this delines a shoulder 18,

Snugly fitted on or otherwise suitably secured on the reduced portion 17of the body 15 is a hollow cylinder 19 having a lower end 20 engagedwith the shoulder 18, and an upper end 21 which is located above theupper end 22 of the body 15. The interior of the cylinder 19 above theupper end 22 of the body 15 is a detonating chamber.

A firing anvil 23 has a Hat disc head 24 engaging the upper end 2.2 ofthe body 15 and an axial shank 25 pressed into an axial bore 26 providedin the body l5.

A handle 27, of sulicient length to put an operator of The form ofrocket 14 shown in Figures l through 4 of the drawings comprises acylindrical piston body 28, preferably made of cork or of other suitablecompressible sealing material. The piston or body 28 is slightly longerthan the detonating chamber of the launcher 13, and is of a diameter tohave a close t in the cylinder 19. The piston 28 is provided with anaxial bore 29 which opens through the upper and lower ends 30 and 31,respectively, of the piston 2S.

wall 39 are cut away to provide parallel sided slots 42, 42.

A rocket cap detonator 43 comprises a disc 44 having a larger diameterthan the cylinder 19 and smaller in di ameter than the feather mount web36. O11 its peripheral edge 45 the disc 44 has two .diametricallyopposed depending lugs 46, 46 which loosely engages through the slots42, 42 so that the disc 44 of the detonator 43 is axially superimposedupon the web 36 and the rocket detonator 43 is free to move toward andaway from the top of Laterally projecting ears 47, 47 on lower throughthe slot portions 48 when it is desired to remove the detonator 43 fromthe feather mount 37. The detonator lugs 46, 46 are spaced from eachother to engage the inner ends 49 of the slots 42, 42 so as to centerthe detonator 43 relative to the web.

' At points midwayl between the slots 42, 42 the feather mount side wall39 has punched out retaining means 50, 50 for the stems or quills 51, S1of feathers 52, 52, the quills 51 being forcibly inserted upwardlybetween the retainers 50, 50 and the outer side of the side wall 39 soas to be secured to the feather mount 37 in depending, outwardly flaredrelation thereto. The free edge -of one side of each feather 52 iscurvedly reduced `in width at its upper part, as indicated at 53, sothat the feathers 52 act as vanes or propeller blades, while the rocket14 is in either upward or downward flight, and cause the rocket 14 ltorotate on its axis.

A resilient and compressible pad 54, of the same diameter as thedetonator disc 44, is secured concentrically on the top of the disc 44by means of wedge lugs 55 extending through holes 56 provided in thedisc 44. The rocket 14 on its return to the ground 57, as shown inFigure l0, lands with the pad 54 downwardly, so that upon striking theground 57 the pad reduces the shock of the contact. The upper surface 58of the pad 54 is flat, and has a rounded edge 59, so that on -ruostoccasions the rocket 14 will remain upright on the ground 57 afterlanding.

A launching explosive cap 61, of available form is, as shown in Figure4, positioned in the launcher detonating chamber, between the firinganvil head 24 and the rocket detonator head 32; and another explosivecap 60 is positioned between the rocket detonator disc 44 and the top ofthe feather mount web 36.

To operate the toy 12, the launcher handle 27 is held in the hand andswung downwardly so as to strike the lower end 16 of the launcher 13upon the ground 57. This causes the piston 28 to move downwardly in thecylinder 19 and explode or detonate the launching cap 61 and drive therocket 14 upwardly `from the launcher 13.

As the rocket 14 moves upwardly, the feathers 52, 52 cause the rocket 14to rotate on its axis, and, as the rocket 14 reaches the top of itstrajectory and falls the same rotation is produced, so that the rocket14 makes an exciting show of gyrations, especially if, as contemplated,the rocket 14 is highly colored as well as its feathers 52, 52.

As the pad 54 on the rocket 14 .strikes the .ground 57, the rocket cap60 is detonated, thereby aifordng the operator of the toy 12 and anyspectators a second audible thrill, the sound of which serving also toorientate the grounded rocket with respect to the operator of the toy.

The form of rocket, generally designated 14a, shown in Figures through 7of the drawings, comprises a body 65, preferably made of cork or ofother compressible sealing material. The body 65 has a reduced axialcylindrical portion 28a, serving as a piston for insertion into thecylinder 19 of the launcher 13. The body 65 has on the upper end of thepiston 28a an enlarged frusto-conical feather mounting portion 37a whoseside wall 39a flares downwardly. A pair of vertical diametricallyopposed feather retaining elements 50a, in the Vorrn of slots, `areprovided in the side wall 39a and open through the lower end of themount ,portion 37a and the quills 51a, 51a of feathers 52a, 52a arejiammed in the slots 50a, 50a and secure the feathers 52a, 52a independing, outwardly flaring relation to the rocket 14a.

On the upper end 30a of the body 65 is an anvil disc 36a having arounded top 66 and a shank 33a depending in and secured in an axial bore29a provided in the body 65.

A rocket cap detonator 43a is in the formof a concavoconvex disc 44awhich has depending from its .peripheral edge 45a a hinge lug 46a whichis engaged around a hinge pin 47a which extends across a notch 48aprovided in the upper part of the side wall 39a of the feather mountportion 37a. The ends of the hinge pin 47a are secured in the side wallsof the notch 48a. -At a point diametrically opposite the hinge lug 46athere depends from the peripheral edge 45a of the detonator disc 4411 aspring ,detent T68 .having a projection 69 `which is removablyengageable in a depression 70 provided in the side wall 39a of thefeather mount portion 37a.

The lower end of the piston portion 28a of the body 65 is encased in ametal ferrule 71 having a bottom wall 32a which serves the launcher capdetonating head. It is evident that the rocket 14a is set by placing anexplosive cap between the rocket detonator disc 44a and the anvil disc36a, and that another explosive cap is placed between the detonatinghead 32a and the launcher iring anvil head 24, and that the operation ofthe launcher 13 and the performance of the rocket 14a, includingdetonation upon returning to the ground 57, are as hereinabovedescribed.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, the form of rocketshown therein, and generally designated 141:, comprises a compressiblebody 65b comprising a lower piston portion 28b and an enlarged upperfeather mount portion 37b. Feathers 52b, 52h having quills 51b, Slb aremounted on the downwardly daring side wall 391; of the mounting portion37b, the upper portions of the quills 51h, 51h being positioned invertical slots 73, 73 provided in the side wall 39b and are retainedtherein by spring rings 50b, 50b circumposed on the mounting portion 37band seated in vertically spaced grooves 74, 74 formed in the side wall39b and extending across the slots 73, 73.

A launcher cap detonating head 3212 is in the form of a disc engagedwith the lower end 31b of the piston portion ZSb. A pin 33b extendsthrough an axial bore 29h provided Yin the body 65`b and through acenter hole 75 in the head 32h and is riveted against the under side ofthe head 32b, as indicated at 76.

The pin 33h extends at its upper end through a center hole 77 providedin the lower arm 78 of a rocket cap detonator 43b. Fixed on the upperend of the pin 33h is a disc 36b which serves as an anvil, and holds thelower arm 78 of the detonator 43b upon the upper end 30h of the body65b.

The detonator 43b is made of dat spring stock, is U- shaped, andincludes the bight portion 79 and the upper arm S0 which overlies thelower arm 78 and is normally yielda-bly maintained spaced above thelower arm 78. The upper and lower arms 80 rand 78, respectively, are ofdisc form, and a resilient and compressible pad 54b is secured to theupper side of the upper arm 80 by means of wedge lugs 55b engagedthrough holes 56b provided in the upper arm 80.

A rocket explosive cap 60b is adapted to be placed between the upper arm80 of the detonator 43b and the anvil disc 3611. A launcher cap isadapted to be placed between the detonating disc 3211 on the lower endof the piston portion 28h and the anvil 24 of the launcher 13, ashereinabove described. The launching and performance of the rocket 1417are as hereinabove described for the rockets 14 and 14a, it beingobvious, in the case of the rocket A14h that the detonator upper arrn isdeflected toward the lower arm '78 so as to detonate lthe cap 601: whenthe pad 54h hits the ground 57.

What is claimed is:

l. ln a rocket toy, a rocket body comprising an elongated piston portionhaving upper and lower ends, a feather mount on the upper end of saidpiston portion, said mount having an upper end and a side wall,diametrically opposed feathers secured to said side wall and dependingfrom said mount, a rocket cap detonator head on the upper end ot saidrocket body portion, a rocket cap detonator overlying said detonatorhead, and ilexible means mounting sa'd detonator on said rocket body formovement toward said detonator head for detonating an explosive-rocketcap located between the detonator head and said detonator as ksaiddetonator strikes the ground as the rocket returns to the ground afterbeing launched.

2. In va rocket toy, a rocket comprising .a rocket body comprising anelongated piston portion having upper and lower ends, a rocket capdetonator head on the upper end of said body, a rocket cap detonatoroverlying said rocket cap detonator head, and means flexibly mountingsaid detonator on said rocket body for movement toward said detonatorhead as the detonator strikes the ground as the rocket returns to theground from flight.

3. In a rocket toy, a rocket comprising a rocket body comprising anelongated piston portion having upper and lower ends, a rocket capdetonator head on the upper end of said body, a rocket cap detonatoroverlying said rocket cap detonator head, and means flexibly mountingsaid detonator on said rocket body for movement toward said detonatorhead as the detonator strikes the ground as the rocket returns to theground from ight, a feather mount fixed on the upper end of said pistonportion, said mount being larger in diameter than said piston portionand having a side wall, inverted feathers having quills, and retainingmeans securing the feather quills in circumferentially spaced relationon said side wall with the feathers depending below said feather mount.

4. A rocket toy according to claim 2 wherein said detonator comprises adisc having depending lugs retainably engaged in slots provided in aportion of said body.

5. A rocket toy according to claim 4 wherein said disc has an upperside, and a resilient and compressible pad secured on said upper side ofthe disc.

6. A rocket toy according to claim 2 wherein said detonator head has aconvex upper surface, and the detonator disc is concavo-convex forconformance with said convex upper surface, said detonator disc beinghinged at one side to a portion on the rocket body and has a springdetent on its other side releasably engageable with a part of said bodyportion.

7. A rocket toy according to claim 2 wherein said detonator comprises aU-shaped spring member having normally spaced upper and lower armsprojecting from a bght portion, said arms being superimposed andregistered with each other, and wherein said detonator head comprises adisc located between said upper and lower arms, said disc beingretainably engaged with said lower arm and said upper arm is normallyspaced above said disc, said mounting means having a portion secured tosaid disc.

8. A rocket toy according to claim 3 wherein said feather mount ishollow and its side wall spacedly surrounds said piston portion.

9. A rocket toy according to claim 3 wherein said feather mount is solidand is located entirely above the upper end of said piston portion.

10. A rocket toy according to claim 9, wherein said retaining meanscomprises vertical slots provided in the feather mount side wall intowhich the feather quills are retainably jammed.

11. A rocket toy according to claim 10 wherein said retaining meansfurther comprises spring rings surroundand crossing said vertical slotsthe vertical slots.

ing said mount side wall and retaining the quills in References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

